Most in Mass. support marijuana legalization, poll says

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (WWLP) – We know how Massachusetts voters feel about medical marijuana, but what about total legalization? A new Suffolk University/Boston Herald poll shows that most people support the idea.

The poll found that more than half, 53% of likely voters, supported the legalization of marijuana, while 37% were opposed.

According to the Director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center, the actual support may be even higher than that. He says this mid-term poll is made up of more conservative voters than in a presidential election.

22News asked people in Hampshire County if they would support full legalization of pot.

“Just being a father of a six year old I don’t think it should be legalized,” Timothy Thurston of Springfield said. “Like they say, it could be a gateway drug, and with him (his son) getting ready to go to school, it’s just another tax. The government wants to come in and control it.”

Adrienne Daniels of Granby disagrees, saying that marijuana use does not lead to the use of hard drugs.

“It’s not a gateway drug. I know people who have been smoking for 20 years and they’ve never touched anything else,” Daniels said.

In 2008, Massachusetts voters decriminalized up to an ounce of marijuana, and in 2012, voted to legalize medical marijuana for people with debilitating medical conditions.

Right now, the state is in the process of awarding dispensary licenses, one of which will be located in Northampton.